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Hollywood, CA -- October 26, 2012

Something happened at the Hollywood Bowl that doesn't usually happen at Bob Dylan concerts and deserves mentioning. I don't know if it's been mentioned on other reviews or message boards because I haven't had time to check it out. But for the record, I'll give my eyewitness account, right here, right now. Bob and band are just lining up right after "Blowin' In The Wind," Bob's pulling on his curls a little bit like he does. Before you know it, some crazy chick is up on stage running straight for Bob. I mean she was quick. I was in the front row, at the rail, and she just heaved herself over the front of the stage got on her feet and continued toward Bob. He had a stunned look on his face. Bob's bodyguard, Baron, grabbed her and carried her to the front of the stage where Hollywood Bowl security shuffled her out right in front of me. Disappointed, someone shouted, "that's the best part of the show." It was over in an instant, and Bob was gone. I don't know how Baron grabbed her so fast. My friend, Becky was in the third row and said the girl was running up the aisle toward the stage, and the venue security went towards her but then just let her go. It's possible that Baron saw her coming. I saw him after the show as he was getting on the bus among a throng of people in the parking lot outside the backstage area. I got close enough to tell him, "good job, Baron," and he said, "thanks."
But let not this incident deter from an otherwise great show. This is the third time I've seen Dylan at the Hollywood Bowl . . . in '93 with Santana and '99 with Paul Simon. I'll never forget the Paul Simon show. The celebs were ubiquitous that night, mostly in the Garden Boxes. First one I saw was Eric Clapton, whom I acknowledged, and he acknowledged me. A few days later, Bob would appear with Eric on his Antigua drug benefit show. Jack Nicholson was sitting with Warren Beatty. Woody
Harrelson was drinking a bottle out of a paper bag. And Dustin Hoffman, famously of "The Graduate" with Paul Simon's "Mrs. Robinson," was dancing next to me in the aisles. Rob Reiner had a better seat in the back row of the Pool Circle. So on this night in 2012, Bob opens with "You Ain't Goin' Nowhere," and whereas in San Diego he kept repeating the same lines, tonight he remembered to include more words like my favorite, "Genghis Khan he could not keep all his kings supplied with sleep." The second slot was filled with the brilliant, "To Ramona." The center stage theatrics of "Things Have Changed," and "Tangled Up In Blue" have become Bob's showcase songs and the funnest part of the shows for me. Back on the baby grand for "The Levee's Gonna Break," "Make You Feel My Love," and "Cry Awhile." Bob seems to favor the modern songs, and they did not disappoint. Bob treated us next with the fan favorite, "Desolation Row." I always feel lucky to get a live rendition, and this was the highlight of the show for me. After "Highway 61," Bob ever the mystic clairvoyant predicted the upcoming "Soybomb" moment with "Lovesick." I never tired of that song even when Bob played it nightly and am glad to get it now that it is a rarety. I was glad too that the front rows were standing for the standard closers. I stood for most of the show anyway, but there's always more energy when people are up moving around, dancing, and this was the case during the closing set. Besides, the steel, folding chairs are really hard in the Pool Circle. A good, animated, "Ballad Of A Thin Man" deserves mentioning. Bob has really developed it into an enjoyable show piece for himself and his audience. Song and Dance Man indeed. The Vegas show was next on my agenda. So a "Delia" review is forthcoming.

Review Location:

Hollywood Bowl

Review Date:

Friday, October 26, 2012

Review Author:

Andy Carroll / Utopian Hermit Monk

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